It has been revealed that the dress-making simulation game *Dressmaker*—which was released on September 22 and is currently rated “Overwhelmingly Positive” on Steam as of this writing—was created for the developer’s wife, who had to give up her dreams due to illness.
An Authentic Dressmaking Experience
This dress-making simulation lets players experience the full process of garment creation—from selecting fabrics and adjusting patterns to cutting, sewing on a machine, and embellishing with buttons and ribbons. The grain of the fabric, bias cuts, and adjustments to each piece all influence the final look of the garment.You can choose from a wide variety of fabrics—including cotton, linen, wool, silk, and velvet—finalize your designs in a sketchbook, and pin them to a mannequin before sewing them together to experience authentic dressmaking. Fulfill orders from townspeople, deliver garments, and run your shop while building your reputation. You can even pet a cat.
For His Wife, Who Had to Give Up Her Dream Due to Illness—A Costume-Making Dream Fulfilled Through a Game
The game was developed by Jonathan Hau-Yoon, who worked on *Fortnite* and *Terra Nil*, and Sabrina Becker, an artist and costume-making enthusiast. As revealed onGamePress, Sabrina had dreamed of making a career in costume design but was forced to give up that path due to Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, a connective tissue disorder.
“Dressmaker” was born from Jonathan’s desire to help her pursue her passion for costume design once again through a video game.
“I used to think of clothes as just fabric you buy at a store. But Sabrina taught me that clothes tell stories about economics, technology, culture, and more. Seeing her eyes light up, I wanted to express that joy-filled creativity,” Jonathan said.
Prototype Reaches 100,000 Downloads; Studio Specializing in Violent Games Launches New Label
What was initially intended to be a small-scale side project sparked an explosive online response even before a prototype existed. Jonathan pitched the idea to Free Lives in South Africa, but it was difficult to sell the concept to a studio known for creating violent, comedy-heavy games like *Broforce* and *GORN*.
Undeterred, he created a prototype in just three weeks. It surpassed 100,000 downloads, and players began sharing their own creations one after another. Driven by this overwhelming response, the studio reportedly launched a new label, “Cozy Lives,” to move the project forward.
I wasn’t crazy after all!
They fully recouped their development costs immediately after release.
“My optimism was right. I wasn’t crazy! Since we’ve fully recouped our development costs, I can continue this project with the confidence that others love it too,” Jonathan said joyfully.
*Dressmaker* is now available for PC (Steam).
